Toy steering wheel



Dec. 7, 1948. I J. J. BRAUDE 2,455,887

TOY STEERING WHEEL Filed March 30, 1948 IN V EN TOR."

JA CK J. BRA UDE ,4 T TORNEK Patented Dec. 7, 1948 .qQUNITE-Df STATESPATENT; j oF'FIcE Jack J.;Braude, Los Angeles,0alif., assignor to ,Evco,Inc., Los..Angeles, Caliit, a corporation 'of California 7 ApplicationMarch 30, 1948, 'Serial No. 17,939

, The invention relates to a toy steering wheel, and more particularly,to a steering wheel and flexible column therefor, with means, such as asuction cup, for attaching the same to any suitable objectsuch as a toywagon or the dashboard of an automobile.

The invention particularly relates to improvements in the steering wheelitself and the manner in which it is coupled to the outer end of theflexible column. According to the invention, the steering wheel isprovided with a sleeve slightly larger in diameter than the diameter ofa round flexible column, the sleeve having spaced from the insidethereof a stud slightly smaller in diameter than the internal diameterof the flexible column. The wheel with its sleeve and stud are molded inone integral piece of thermo-plastic material. To facilitate the draftof the die, the stud is cast concentric with the sleeve, the stud andsleeve being slightly tapered. However this would permit the wheel todrop off from the column. To prevent this, when the casting is takenfrom the mold and while it is still warm and pliable, the outer end ofthe stud is pushed to an eccentric position in the outer end of thesleeve, and allowed to cool and harden there so it will pinch theflexible column. This provides a removable coupling which prevents thewheel from falling off while permitting it to be rotated by hand. Theadvantage of this arrangement is that while the steering wheel, columnand suction cup may be taken apart to make a compact package, thecoupling between the outer end of the flexible column and the steeringwheel is of such a nature that the steering wheel can be readily turnedor rotated with reference to the column thereby more nearly simulatingan actual steering wheel.

For further details of the invention reference may be made to thedrawings wherein Fig 1 is a perspective view of the toy steering wheelillustrated as applied to the dashboard of a typical automobile.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the front of the toy steering wheel.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the toy steering wheel on line33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the toy steering wheel I comprisesthree elements removably fitting together, namely, the steering wheel 2,the flexible column 3 of rubber or the like and a suction cup 4 ofrubber or the like.

The invention relates particularly to the manner in which the steeringwheel 2 is coupled to I the outer end 5 of the column 3. According tothe invention, the column 3 has a round exterior 5 Claims.

6 and a round bore I. The steering wheel 2 has three-hollow .ribs, oneof which is indicated at 8;-which radiate from a central outwardlyfacing cups. The outer ends of the ribs like 8 merge withthe rim [0 ofthe wheel and preferably the front surface H of the ribs is streamlinedor tangent with the outer end of the cup 9 as shown at 13 in Fig. 3.Arranged in the cup 9 is a mechanical horn l4 having a push button 15.The bottom of cup 9 has a partition l6 and extending rearwardlytherefrom is a sleeve [1 having an internal bore slightly greater thanthe diameter of the column 3 which may be a piece of hard rubber hose.Coaxial with the sleeve l1 and also rearwardly projecting from thecenter of the wall 16 is a stud l8 which is preferably the same lengthas sleeve I! as shown in Fig. 3, stud [8 being slightly smaller indiameter than the bore 1 of the column 3. After the wheel 2 is takenfrom the mold and While stud I8 is pliable, its outer end 20 is pushedto an eccentric position and allowed to cool and set there, whereby itsportion 2| which is closest to the sleeve I1 I provides a gap 22 of lesswidth than the thickthe column 3 and the cup 4 to prevent the column 3from turning in the cup 4 when the wheel 2 is operated.

As a result of the above construction, the wheel 2 is readily uncoupledfrom the outer end 5 of the column 3 and readily coupled thereto whilemaking it possible for the youngster to turn the wheel 2 with respect tothe column 3 when assembled thereon. The sleeve I! and the stud l8therefore provide a rotatable coupling with the outer end 5 of column 3.

It will be apparent that various modifications may be made in theinvention without departing from the spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A toy steering wheel of plastic material having a central outwardlyfacing cup having a bottom wall; a sleeve projecting rearwardly from therear of said Wall; a stud projecting rearwardly from said wall withinsaid sleeve, said stud having a base concentric with and spaced from theinside of said sleeve to provide a gap therebetween, the outer end ofsaid stud having a side surface at a given peripheral region thereofwhich is spaced from said sleeve by a smaller gap than the remainder ofthe periphery at the outer end of said stud to thereby provide a gapbetween said sleeve and outer end of said stud at said region which isof less radial width than the gap at theizbase of r-said study-rand-aresilient, hollow steering column'having an endportion fitting insidesaid sleeve and over said stud, said column having a wall of greaterthickness than said smaller gap, whereby to providet-alfriction grip atsaid smaller gap for preventing said wheel from falling off saidsteering-column while permitting rotation of said Wheel "relativeto-said steering column.

2. A toy steering wheel of piastic materiali'having a central outwardlyfacing cup having a bottom wall; a sleeve projecting rearwardly "fromthe rear of said wall; and a stud projecting rearwardlyirom saidwallwithin said sleeve, said stud having a base concentric "with andspaced from -'the inside of said sleeve to 'provide-agap therebetween,the'outer end'of said stud having a side surface ata givenperipheralregionthereof which is spaced from said-sleeve by a smallergap than 'the remainder of the outer 'peripheralportion of -"theouterendof said stud to thereby prov'ide a gap atapointbetweensaid'sleeve-and 4 outer end of said stud which is of less radialwidth than the gap at the base of said stud.

"3. Autoyssteering wheel-comprising; a central outwardly facing "cuphaving a 'side'wa'll and a bottom wall; a substantially cylindricalsleeve projecting rearwardly from said bottom wall; and 'a substantiallycylindrical stud within said sleeve and also projecting rearwardly fromsaid bottom wall, the inner *end of said stud being concentricwith'reSpectttQ-YLsaid sleeve and the outer end of said stud beingeccentric with respect to said ,asleeve.

4..A toy steering wheel according to claim 1 wherein said stud is round,the interior of said sleeve isround, and said steering column is roundand has a round hore,- said end portion: of said column rotatablyfitting in said sl eeve"and over said stud. I I r --5. 'A toy steeri-ng-wheel -accordi'r'1g :to claim 1 wherein said-stud is: substantiallyaslongaas :said sleeve.

JACK 'J. BRAUDE.

: 'No: references' cited.

